Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-11
DEMOCRATIC SOLDIERS.

The Shameless Way In Which They Are
Treated by Republican Partissns.
It will do the machine Republicans
no good to deceive themselves about
this organization of Democratic sol
diefs> 1t is not to be whistied down
the wind. There will be quite enough
Of il to make the machine uncomforta-
BILE, and to make the G. A. K. wish 1t
had kept out of politics. There is in it
not the slightest GOODNESS or antmos-
ity to the g. A. R., except as it for
sakes its true path and purpose and
undertakes to boom one party and
abuse another. The Democrats pro-
pose to remain in the order, bat they
propose to also organize outside of it.
A valued exchange is therefore not
quite correct in saying:
A large number OF the G. A. R. Post Of Des
Moires have seeded because OF the offensive
ness OF the futile element. 1t is hard for Drm-
ocrats to remain in such posts as that OF Des
Noines and maintain their self-respecS
But why should not Democratic SOL
diers organize The Republican party
has never yet failed to make merchan-
disc of the patriotism, the blood, the
lives of the Democratic soldiers. 1t
has been so not only ever since the
war, but ever since the Democratic
soldier enlisted. He knew it would be
so when he enlisted. He left his home,
his family, his loved ones to go out and
offer up his life in cause whose credit
he knew would be claimed by the nAer-
cenary men who abused him for his
politics, The patriotism of the SOL
dier who was on the popular side in
politics does not compare with this.
And even to this day the patriotism
of the Democratic soldier is impugned.
He has been denied any participation
in the official honors and emoluments
of the country. He toresaw all this.
and patiently he has endured it But
the time for endurance is past. For
bearance has ceased to be a virtue.
Considering the circumstances under
which he enlisted, and the patience
with which, for his country's sake, he
has borne insult and injury FROM the
time the unseasoned flesh OF his tender
youth yielded to the bullet until his hair
is gray and his joints stifened with
age, there is not on the page of history
more shining example of patriotism
than this same Democratic soldier.
Why shouldn't he ORGANIZED He
asks no undue pension. He is not
seeking office. He seeks only the
peace and happiness of the whole
country. He did not offer his life that
Presidents might be insulted, the
country rent with civil strife, and the
hearts of his children filled with un dy-
ing hatred against n portion of their
countrVmen He FOUGHT for peace
and union. He thinks that four years
of fighting and twenty-five years more
of waiting are enough; or ought to be
enough, to gain those blessed ends.
Is he not rightP
1t is the Democratic soldier, of all
human beings, who may be proud to
stand up and be counted. He is not
scarce. AS one of our exchanges has
recently observed. Missouri sent II, $50
more men into the Union army than
Iowa did Missouri cast only 17,O2S
votes for Lincoln, but sent sc, $50 men
into the Union army, while Iowa cast
70, 400 votes for Lincoln and only fur
.nished 68. $50 men to the Union army,
Conceding that two-thirds of the Iowa
soldiers were Republicans, and that
two-thirds of those who voted for Lin
coin in Missouri enlisted in the Union
army. we have total of about 81, 600
Republican soldiers from these States,
while the same States furnished 5000
Democratic ., soldiers to the Union
armyi These figures are rather inter-
esting. A good many more such could
be furnIshed.-Des MoineS (La- Leader.